School Business Manager

School Business Manager – Aurora Linemere

Location: Backwell, Bristol

Contract Type: Full-time/Permanent

Hours: 40 hours per week, Full Year

Salary: £42,000 - £46,000 depending on experience

Preferred Start Date: 13th April 2026

Closing Date: 27th January 2026

Aurora Linemere is opening its doors in Summer 2026, and we’re looking for an experienced School Business Manager to help make this vision a reality. This is a rare opportunity to be part of something truly transformative.

Aurora Linemere will be a nurturing, inclusive and ambitious school for children and young people aged 5–19 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. With a capacity of 96 students, our vision is to create a safe, enriching and aspirational environment where every learner can thrive.

The role:

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you’ll take overall responsibility for the leadership and development of our support services. This includes Finance, HR, Administration, Facilities, ICT, Health & Safety, Housekeeping, and Catering. You’ll ensure these functions run smoothly and efficiently, creating an environment that supports learning and wellbeing for every student.

You’ll manage budgets and resources with autonomy and accountability, lead and inspire teams to deliver excellent standards, and drive continuous improvement through strategic planning. From overseeing compliance and financial performance to ensuring our site is safe, healthy, and welcoming, you’ll play a vital role in shaping the success of Aurora Linemere from day one.

Please see the link below for our full job description:

School Business Manager - Linemere - JD.docx

About You:

We’re looking for someone with strong leadership and business management experience, ideally within education or a similar setting. You’ll have:

• A solid understanding of regulations and standards for education and care, safeguarding, and health & safety legislation.
• Knowledge of financial systems, budget preparation, and performance monitoring, including EBITDA.
• Familiarity with inspection frameworks, funding structures, and compliance requirements.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with staff, students, parents, and external agencies.
• Proven experience leading multiple teams across several functions and managing budgets effectively.
• Strong problem-solving skills, the ability to work autonomously, and confidence in making decisions that matter.
• A management or professional qualification (e.g., Management Diploma or Finance qualification) is desirable.
• Knowledge and experience of leading on HR processes and procedures is desirable.

🌟What’s on Offer at Aurora?

We believe in supporting you as much as we support the children and young people in our care. Here’s a snapshot of the fantastic benefits waiting for you:

📚 Grow with Us – Training & Development

Learning never stops at Aurora! We offer a wide range of training programmes and career development opportunities to help you build your skills and reach your goals.

💸 Save Money on Everyday Essentials

With the rising cost of living, our Perkbox app helps you stretch your money further:

• Discounts on groceries, phone plans, internet, dining out, gym memberships & more
• Access to our Cycle to Work and Car Scheme

💰 Competitive Pay & Reward

We regularly benchmark our pay and benefits to stay ahead of the curve. You’ll enjoy:

• Enhanced Annual Leave
• Company Sick Pay
• Enhanced Pension
• Life Assurance

🩺 24/7 GP Access – For You & Your Household

Need a doctor? No problem. Book a phone or video appointment anytime, day or night. This service covers everyone in your household.

🦷 UK Health Cash Plan

Cover everyday healthcare costs like dental and optician bills. You and your children are included in the scheme, and you can upgrade to add your partner too!

🧠 Employee Assistance Programme

Your wellbeing matters. Get confidential support on a wide range of issues, including:

• Freephone counselling (available 24/7)
• Online tools and resources

👯‍♀️ Refer a Friend – Earn £1,000!

Know someone who’d be a great fit? Refer them and get rewarded! (*Terms apply)

How to apply?

For candidates that haven’t worked in this sector before please be aware that for regulatory reasons the application process is far more detailed and thorough compared to other sectors.

Please complete the online application form in full, including all employment and education details, and provide a personal statement that makes us keen to speak to you.

If you need any assistance or would like any more information, please contact Adele in the Aurora Group Recruitment Team at Adele.richard@theauroragroup.co.uk

Successful applicants will be subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks including an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.

The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Aurora Group is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

The Aurora Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children and young adults in our care and is a disability confident and equal opportunities employer.

This advert could be taken down at any point in time without prior notice if the position is filled. 

Please note that candidates that are shortlisted might be subject to an online search.